A quinceañera is a time to celebrate a girl becoming a woman.
A quinceañera is a Latin American coming-of-age celebration that is akin to a sweet 16 bash. Commemorating a girl's transition into womanhood at 15, the occasion starts with a solemn church ceremony and then moves on to a party with family and friends where several rituals are performed to symbolize the fact that a girl is becoming a young woman.
Party Introductions
Members of the quinceañera party are formally introduced as they enter the reception hall.
A girl in a quinceañera usually has an entourage of 14 girls and boys, each of whom represents the years in her life. The girl herself is the 15th year. As each couple enters, the master of ceremonies announces them, presenting them to everyone else at the party. Once the quince girl enters, either her parents or her godparents crown her with a tiara.
Changing of the Shoes
Changing from flats to high heels is another symbol that a girl is becoming a woman.
When a girl enters the reception after the church ceremony, she does so wearing flats. This symbolizes that she is still a girl. Typically, she will then sit in the middle of the dance floor and her father will replace her flat shoes with high heels, a sign that she is now to be recognized as a woman. In some ceremonies, a girl will also be given a pair of earrings. This signifies that she is ready to listen to the word of God.
Candle Ceremony
As people blow out candles, they make a wish for the quince girl's future.
Once upon a time, the candle ceremony was only held in church. Today, however, it is often included in the reception, according to the website Quinceañera Parties. Fifteen candles are lit and placed in a candelabra. Members of the court blow out the candles while making silent wishes for the girl's future.
The Last Doll
The quince girl will throw a doll to those who are under the age of 15.
The quinceañera last doll tradition is particular to Mexico. Also symbolizing a girl's transformation into womanhood, a girl's father will give her a doll, the last doll of her childhood. Most often the doll is made of porcelain, but there is also a Quinceañera Barbie doll. At the end of the ceremony, the quince girl will throw the doll to girls who are not yet 15.
The Waltz
A quince girl and her escort will start the dance before others join them.
For weeks leading up to the celebration, the quinceañera girl and her coterie will practice a waltz. It starts with the girl and her escort dancing alone, before others in the party join them. Increasingly, dances are being choreographed to other forms of music, such as merengue, salsa, reggae and hip-hop.
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